[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOMING HOME FARC HOSTAGES

  Ms. CANTWELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign 
Relations be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 627 and 
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 627) welcoming home Keith Stansell, 
     Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves, three citizens of the 
     United States who were held hostage for over 5 years by the 
     Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, after their 
     plane crashed on February 13, 2003.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. CANTWELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 627) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 627

       Whereas a Congressional Resolution in 2007 (S. Con. Res. 
     53) condemned the kidnapping and hostage-taking of three 
     citizens of the United States, Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, 
     and Marc Gonsalves for over four years by the FARC, and 
     demanded their immediate and unconditional release;
       Whereas the Senate expresses sorrow at the murder of Tom 
     Janis by the FARC, another citizen of the United States that 
     was on the downed aircraft, and Luis Alcedes Cruz, a member 
     of the Colombian military, as well as citizens of the United 
     States who died during a hostage search mission in 2003;
       Whereas the Government of Colombia carried out a historic 
     rescue mission on July 2, 2008, freeing 15 hostages who the 
     FARC had kidnapped and held in captivity, including these 
     three citizens of the United States, Ingrid Betancourt, and 
     military and police personnel of Colombia;
       Whereas the armed forces of Colombia planned, led, and 
     executed the rescue operation without a single gunshot;
       Whereas the United States Government played a key 
     supportive role in the rescue mission by the armed forces of 
     Colombia;
       Whereas the FARC is designated as a foreign terrorist 
     organization by the Department of State and the European 
     Union;
       Whereas the FARC utilizes kidnappings for ransom, 
     extortion, and the drug trade to finance its activities;
       Whereas the FARC committed atrocities against citizens of 
     both Colombia and the United States;
       Whereas the FARC has kidnapped at least 36 citizens of the 
     United States since 1980, and killed 10 citizens of the 
     United States;
       Whereas the FARC currently holds an estimated 700 people as 
     hostages; and
       Whereas over 50 FARC leaders have been indicted in the 
     United States for drug trafficking: Now, therefore, be it
         Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) welcomes Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc 
     Gonsalves home to the United States after being held for over 
     five years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia 
     (FARC);
       (2) celebrates with the families and relatives of the 
     hostages who kept faith despite being unsure of the fates of 
     their family members for more than five years;
       (3) expresses gratitude to the Government of Colombia and 
     the armed forces of Colombia for successfully rescuing the 
     hostages, and applauds the effective contribution of the 
     United States Government to this effort;
       (4) calls for the immediate release of all hostages held by 
     the FARC and other armed terrorist groups in Colombia; and
       (5) urges the FARC to lay down their weapons and reject 
     terrorism.

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